Video game = CIA plot

Mercenaries 2: World in Flames™ is an explosive open-world action game set in a massive, highly reactive, war-torn world. A power-hungry tyrant messes with Venezuela's oil supply, sparking an invasion that turns the country into a warzone.

But for you, international crisis is all upside: You are a mercenary, and you profit from chaos. Mercenaries 2™ features a slew of potential clients, all willing to pay you to do their dirty work. Dirty deeds, done for exorbitant fees. These are world powers with deep pockets, deep grudges, and enough arms and ammo to start World War III. This is your kind of environment.

Chávez's allies in the Venezuelan National Assembly claim [the game makers] "are doing Washington's bidding by drumming up support among Americans for an eventual move to overthrow Chavez."

Congressman Ismael Garcia said, "I think the U.S. government knows how to prepare campaigns of psychological terror so they can make things happen later."

Newsflash to Hugo fans everywhere: It's a friggin' video game.

I used to a huge video game buff back in the industry's dawning age. I wonder if the Soviet Union thought that "Missile Command" was the US's way of preparing a first strike against them? Maybe "Berserk" was perceived by the Chi-Coms as a clandestine US attempt to infiltrate their country with nigh-indestructable robots?